Total emissions for compliancehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/national-emission-ceilings/nec-directive-reporting-status-2015/total-emissions-for-compliance
Total emissions for compliance (provisional data 2014) compared with the 2010 emissions ceilings (Annex I), in Gg (1000 tonnes).

EU Member State

Ammonia (NH3)

NH3 ceiling 2010(Annex I)

Non-methane volatileorganic compounds (NMVOCs)

NMVOC ceiling 2010(Annex I)

Austria

66.91

66

109.83

159

Belgium

66.63

74

121.17

139

Bulgaria

30.49

108

87.17

175

Croatia

25.50

30

60.36

90

Cyprus

4.58

9

6.82

14

Czech Republic

69.18

80

149.05

220

Denmark

73.32

69

105.77

85

Estonia

13.14

29

22.38

49

Finland

37.16

31

90.07

130

France

707.57

780

638.35

1050

Germany

739.79

550

1041.36

995

Greece

60.79

73

119.92

261

Hungary

83.56

90

116.53

137

Ireland

105.19

116

86.79

55

Italy

393.81

419

870.31

1159

Latvia

17.47

44

54.48

136

Lithuania

40.93

84

69.26

92

Luxembourg

5.93

7

9.83

9

Malta

1.59

3

3.00

12

Netherlands

134.17

128

145.37

185

Poland

262.57

468

606.42

800

Portugal

48.94

90

165.17

180

Romania

163.08

210

319.64

523

Slovakia

37.15

39

88.20

140

Slovenia

19.27

20

32.49

40

Spain

399.79

353

590.18

662

Sweden

53.91

57

183.92

241

United Kingdom

281.27

297

818.68

1200

EU-28

3943.68

4324

6712.53

8938

EU Member State

Nitrogen oxides (NOx)

NOx ceiling 2010 (Annex I)

Sulphhur dioxide (SO2)

SO2 ceiling 2010 (Annex I)

Austria

129.95

103

15.99

39

Belgium

187.78

176

42.27

99

Bulgaria

128.92

247

193.56

836

Croatia

55.19

87

15.56

70

Cyprus

17.21

23

16.79

39

Czech Republic

174.85

286

126.91

265

Denmark

113.36

127

11.42

55

Estonia

33.50

60

40.84

100

Finland

137.94

170

43.85

110

France

870.91

810

168.62

375

Germany

1224.29

1051

388.03

520

Greece

253.14

344

140.05

523

Hungary

119.99

198

27.15

500

Ireland

74.70

65

19.34

42

Italy

781.04

990

147.57

475

Latvia

35.02

61

4.16

101

Lithuania

51.41

110

17.83

145

Luxembourg

14.18

11

1.56

4

Malta

6.46

8

4.67

9

Netherlands

224.81

260

29.05

50

Poland

721.31

879

801.47

1397

Portugal

161.03

250

34.56

160

Romania

221.19

437

175.77

918

Slovakia

76.79

130

43.10

110

Slovenia

41.23

45

8.81

27

Spain

739.48

847

241.75

746

Sweden

135.04

148

23.97

67

United Kingdom

949.20

1167

307.64

585

EU-28

7679.93

9090

3092.30

8367

]]>No publishernon-methane volatile organic compoundsso2noxnh3nmvocnec directiveammoniasulphur dioxidenitrogen oxides2016/06/10 09:00:00 GMT+1PageAir pollutant emissions declining, but still above limitshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/air-pollutant-emissions-declining-but
Emissions of most air pollutants decreased in 2013, confirming the long-term downward trend in Europe since 1990. But many countries are still exceeding internationally-agreed pollutant limits, set to protect human health and the environment, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA).The annual European Union emission inventory report 1990-2013 under the UNECE Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP) confirms a long-term downward trend for most air pollutants. For the first time, this year’s report also documents black carbon (BC) emissions, an air pollutant which is also an important short lived climate forcer.

Across the EU-28, sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions have fallen the most since 1990 (87% reduction), followed by carbon monoxide (CO) (66%), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) (59%) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) (54%). NH3 emissions have declined less since 1990 than emissions of the other main pollutants (27%). The rate at which emissions are decreasing for these pollutants has, however, slowed over the last decade.

The Gothenburg Protocol to the UNECE LRTAP Convention contains emissions reduction commitments that have to be met from 2010 onwards for the pollutants NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and NH3. In addition to emissions reduction commitments specified for individual countries, the protocol also specifies reduction commitments for the EU-15.

Further key findings

Emissions of primary PM10 and PM2.5 particulate matter both declined by around 20% between 2000 and 2013. For the 19 Member States that reported BC emissions for the first time, two thirds reported decreased emissions since 1990.

Emissions of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg), dioxins and furans, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have also dropped substantially since 1990, in the order of 70% or more.

The EU-15 met its limits for emissions of the four pollutants addressed under the Gothenburg Protocol. However, eight EU Member States exceeded one of their international emissions ceilings in 2013, while Austria (NOx and NH3), Ireland (NOx and NMVOCs) and Germany (NMVOCs and NH3) exceeded two ceilings.

Five Member States (Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland and Luxembourg) reported NOx emissions higher than their Gothenburg ceilings while six Member States (Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Croatia) exceeded their NH3 ceiling. Three Member States (Denmark, Germany and Ireland) exceeded their NMVOCs ceilings.

The EEA member countries Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, also have emissions ceilings specified under the Gothenburg Protocol. In 2013, Liechtenstein exceeded two ceilings (NOx and NH3) and Norway one ceiling (NH3). This year, Switzerland complied with all its ceilings.

Background information

Apart from the emissions of NOx, NMVOCs, SOx and NH3, parties to the LRTAP Convention are required to report data for numerous other air pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), particulate matter (PM) and black carbon (BC), and selected heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The main air pollutants and their effect on human health and the environment are summarised in the EEA’s Air Quality 2014 report.

Air pollutant emissions data viewer

The EEA publishes the data from the inventory report in the air pollutant emissions data viewer, a searchable web-based interface that simplifies access and analysis. The data viewer shows emission trends and graphics for the main sectors and allows for comparison of emissions from different countries and activities.

]]>No publisherair pollutant emissionsgothenburg protocolparticulate matterblack carbonlong-range transboundary air pollutioncarbon monoxidenmvocammoniasulphur dioxide2015/07/02 12:30:00 GMT+1NewsSulphur dioxide - Hourly limit value for the protection of human healthhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/sulphur-dioxide-hourly-limit-value-for-the-protection-of-human-health-6
In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50) the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of human health: the SO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 350 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 24 times in a year and the SO2 daily mean value may not exceed 125 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 3 times in a year.No publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).air qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2014/09/04 08:45:09 GMT+1FigureSulphur dioxide - Annual limit value for the protection of ecosystemshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/sulphur-dioxide-annual-limit-value-for-the-protection-of-ecosystems
In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the SO2 annual mean value may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) and the SO2 mean value for the winter period (1 October to 31 March) may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). No publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).air qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2014/08/22 14:45:11 GMT+1FigureConcentration status for the hourly limit values of SO2 for health protection, 2011http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/SO2-percentile-hourly-air
Distribution of stations by thresholds of 99.73 percentile of the hourly SO2 concentrations for the year 2011. The chart is based on the 99.73 percentile of the SO2 hourly concentrations, corresponding to the 25th highest SO2 concentration when data availability is 100% over the year.No publisherair qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2013/12/02 15:14:31 GMT+1Data VisualizationConcentration status for the daily limit values of SO2 for health protection, 2011http://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/daviz/SO2-percentile-daily-air
Distribution of stations by thresholds of SO2 99.18 percentile concentrations for the year 2011. The chart is based on the 99.18 percentile of the SO2 daily concentrations, corresponding to the 4th highest SO2 concentration when data availability is 100% over the year.No publisherair qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2013/12/02 15:09:30 GMT+1Data VisualizationAir quality in Europe — 2013 reporthttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2013
This report presents an overview and analysis of
air quality in Europe from 2002 to 2011. It reviews progress
towards meeting the requirements of the air quality
directives and gives an
overview of policies and measures introduced
at European level to improve air quality and
minimise impacts. An overview of the latest findings and
estimates of the effects of air pollution on health
and its impacts on ecosystems is also given. No publisherbenzeneclimate changenitrogen dioxideheavy metalsbenzo(a)pyreneozoneparticulate matterhuman healthcarbon monoxideecosystemssulphur dioxide2013/10/14 15:21:40 GMT+1PublicationSulphur Dioxide (SO2): annual mean concentrations in Europehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/themes/air/interactive/so2
The map shows the annual mean concentrations of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in Europe based on daily averages with at least 75% of valid measurements, in µg/m3 (source: EEA, AirBase v.8 & AQ e-Reporting).No publisherair qualityair pollutionso2air quality dataairbasesulphur dioxide2013/04/29 23:00:00 GMT+1GIS Map ApplicationAir legislation in Europehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/signals/signals-2013/articles/air-legislation-in-europe
Air pollution is not the same everywhere. Different pollutants are released into
the atmosphere from a wide range of sources. Once in the atmosphere, they
can transform into new pollutants and spread around the world. Designing and
implementing policies to address this complexity are not easy tasks. Below is an
overview of air legislation in the European Union.The amount of pollutants emitted into the air we breathe has been greatly reduced since the EU introduced policies and measures concerning air quality in the 1970s. Air pollution emissions from many of the major sources including transport, industry, and power generation are now regulated and are generally declining, albeit not always to the extent envisaged.

Targeting pollutants

One way that the EU has achieved this improvement is by setting legally binding and non-binding limits for the whole Union for certain pollutants dispersed in the air. The EU has set standards for particulate matter (PM) of certain sizes, ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, lead, and other pollutants that may have a detrimental effect on human health or ecosystems. Key pieces of legislation that set pollutant limits across Europe include the 2008 Directive on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe (2008/50/EC), and the 1996 Framework Directive on ambient air quality assessment and management (96/62/EC).

Another approach to legislating for improvements to air quality is through the setting of national annual emission limits for specific pollutants. In these cases, countries are responsible for introducing the measures needed to ensure that their emission levels are below the ceiling set for the relevant pollutant.

The Gothenburg Protocol to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP), and the EU National Emission Ceilings Directive (2001/81/EC) both set annual emissions limits for European countries on air pollutants, including those pollutants responsible for acidification, eutrophication, and ground-level ozone pollution. The Gothenburg Protocol was revised in 2012. And the National Emissions Ceilings Directive is up for review and revision in 2013.

Targeting sectors

In addition to setting air quality standards for specific pollutants and annual country-level ceilings, European legislation is also designed to target particular sectors that act as sources of air pollution.

Emissions of air pollutants from the industrial sector are regulated, by among others, the 2010 Industrial Emissions Directive (2010/75/EU) and the 2001 Directive on the limitation of emissions of certain pollutants into the air from Large Combustion Plants (2001/80/EC).

Vehicle emissions have been regulated through a series of performance and fuel standards, including the 1998 Directive relating to the quality of petrol and diesel fuels (98/70/EC) and vehicle emission standards, known as the Euro standards.

The Euro 5 and 6 standards cover emissions from light vehicles including passenger cars, vans, and commercial vehicles. The Euro 5 standard came into force on 1 January 2011, and requires all new cars covered by the legislation to emit less particulates and nitrogen oxides than the limits set. Euro 6, which will enter into force in 2015, will impose stricter limits on nitrogen oxides emitted by diesel engines.

There are also international agreements concerning the emissions of air pollutants in other areas of transportation, such as the International Maritime Organization’s 1973 Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), with its additional protocols, which regulate sulphur dioxide emissions from shipping.

(c) Javier Arcenillas, ImaginAIR/EEA

"Although fortunately there are still places in Romania almost wild and spectacular, where nature is unstained by the hand of man, in more urbanized areas there is an obvious ecological problem."Javier Arcenillas, Spain

Putting the pieces together

A pollutant is usually regulated by more than one piece of legislation. Particulate matter, for example, is directly addressed by three European legal measures (Directives on ambient air quality and emissions of air pollutants, and the Euro limits on road vehicle emissions) and two international conventions (LRTAP and MARPOL). Some of the PM precursors are tackled by other legal measures.

The implementation of these laws are also spread over a period of time and achieved in stages. For fine particles, the air quality directive sets 25 μg/m3 as a ‘target value’ to be met by 1 January 2010. The same threshold is set to become a ‘limit value’ by 2015, entailing additional obligations.

For some sectors, air policies might first cover certain pollutants in limited parts of Europe. In September 2012, the European Parliament adopted the revisions that brought the EU’s standards on sulphur emissions by ships in line with the International Maritime Organization’s standards from 2008. By 2020, the sulphur limit will be 0.5 % in all the seas around the EU.

For the Baltic Sea, the North Sea and the English Channel in so-called ‘Sulphur Emission Control Areas’, the European Parliament set an even stricter sulphur limit of 0.1 % by 2015. Considering that standard marine fuel contains 2 700 times more sulphur than conventional diesel for cars, it is clear that this legislation gives strong reasons to the shipping sector to develop and use cleaner fuels.

Implementation on the ground

Current European air-quality legislation is based on the principle that EU Member States divide their territories into a number of management zones in which countries are required to assess air quality using measurement or modelling approaches. Most big cities are declared to be such zones. If air‑quality standards are exceeded in a zone, the Member State has to report to the European Commission and explain the reasons.

The countries are then required to develop local or regional plans describing how they intend to improve the air quality. They could for example establish so-called low-emission zones that restrict access for more polluting vehicles. Cities can also encourage a shift in transport to less polluting modes including walking, cycling, and public transport. They can also ensure that industrial and commercial combustion sources are fitted with emission‑control equipment, according to the latest, best-available technology.

Research is also critical. Not only does research offer us new technologies, it also improves our knowledge of air pollutants and their negative effects on our health and ecosystems. Integrating the latest knowledge into our laws and actions will help us to continue to improve Europe’s air.

(c) Gülçin Karadeniz

More information

]]>No publisherhelpeconomic sectorsnitrogenlong-range transboundary air pollutionuneceenvironmentecosystemssulphur dioxideacidificationpassenger carsstandardsbaltic seanational emissions ceilingspolicies and measureslogsenergyseaeutransportnitrogen oxidesozonecombustionleadpublic transportlrtappassengersdieselresearchparticulate matterhealthair quality directiveeuropeeuropanaturecarsnational emission ceilingscitiesmarineetrair pollution sourcesghg emission targetsindustryshippingpollutioncombibusescontaminationroadscombustion plantsfine particlesgishuman healthphpopmeutrophicationurbanetspetrolsulphurprotocolsplantsemission ceilingsground-level ozoneairunemissionspolicieseu legislationaciditygothenburg protocolindustrial emissions directivemaritime sectorstatesspatechnologyair qualitynational emission ceilings directivepollutantseconomyfuelsmodelswhotransport modesbaltic regiontunadirectiveair pollutionnorth seaagevehiclescover2013/04/14 23:04:12 GMT+1ArticleAir pollution: breaches of legal limits continued through 2010 and 2011http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/air-pollution-breaches-of-legal
Air pollutant emissions were above legal limits in eight Member States in 2011, preliminary data shows. In 2010, 12 Member States exceeded these limits, according to final official data reported under the European Union’s National Emission Ceilings (NEC) Directive. Several air pollutants are still harming health and the environment in Europe. The most serious air pollutants are particulate matter, ozone and nitrogen dioxide, a fact which is also reflected in the new version of AirBase launched today by the European Environment Agency (EEA). AirBase provides publicly-available air quality information for Europe.

"Although the new data shows some clear improvement between 2010 and 2011, Europe still needs to work hard to reduce air pollution," EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said. "Emissions from transport are still a major problem, particularly in some cities."

Air emissions limits breached by many countries

The NEC Directive covers four main air pollutants: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). These pollutants can cause respiratory problems, contribute to the acidification of soil and surface water, and damage vegetation.

An early analysis of the official ‘final’ 2010 data confirms twelve Member States exceeded their respective NOx ceilings. According to preliminary data, seven of these Member States continued to breach these NOx ceilings in 2011, in some instances by significant amounts. The status for 30 European countries is shown on the chart below. The data can be explored in depth in the National Emission Ceilings (NEC) interactive chart. Germany was the only Member State to have exceeded three of four emission ceilings under the directive in both 2010 and 2011.

Road transport contributes approximately 40 % of total EU-27 NOx emissions and is one of the main factors behind the large number of NOx exceedances. Reductions of NOx from this sector over the last two decades have not been as large as originally anticipated. This is partly because transport demand has been higher than expected, and partly because real-world driving conditions have sometimes led to higher emissions than those anticipated with vehicle emission standards.

AirBase – a rich source of air quality information

A preliminary analysis of the 2011 air quality data in AirBase indicates that European citizens often breathe air that does not meet the air quality requirements, a problem which is particularly serious in cities. As a new feature this year, the AirBase release is accompanied by interactive maps showing the measured air pollutant concentration values throughout Europe. The maps provide an overview of the extent of the problem areas and locations where air quality standards are exceeded.

AirBase contains air quality monitoring data and information made available by 38 countries throughout Europe. The latest Airbase version contains more than 2 billion records reaching from 1973 to 2011 and will enable an updated assessment of the status and trends in air quality in Europe.

Understanding air pollution and its impacts

One aim of the current review of EU air policy is to better understand air pollution in Europe and its impacts to support future policy initiatives. Together with the new version of AirBase, the information on air pollutant emissions is an important resource for Europe’s air policies. EEA’s annual ‘NEC Directive Status’ and ‘Air Quality in Europe’ reports, to be published by mid-2013, will further analyse the recent data reported by EU Member States.

Following the review of EU air policy, the European Commission is expected to publish a proposal for a revised NEC Directive in the autumn of this year, potentially calling for stricter emission ceilings for 2020 or beyond in order to further protect health and the environment. For the first time, a ceiling for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) may be introduced. In the absence of new legislation, however, the NEC Directive remains in force and requires Member States to keep emissions below national ceilings also in future years.

UPDATE: New information on NEC Directive compliance is available in the NEC Directive status report 2012, published on 23 May 2013. The report includes final emission data for the year 2010, and provisional estimates of emissions for 2011.

]]>No publisherground-level ozonenec directiveparticulate mattertrafficair emissionssulphur dioxidenitrogen oxidesAirBase2013/03/18 10:55:00 GMT+1NewsSulphur dioxide 2010 - Annual limit value for the protection of ecosystemshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/sulphur-dioxide-2010-annual-limit
In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50), the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of vegetation within the zones designated by member states: the SO2 annual mean value may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) and the SO2 mean value for the winter period (1 October to 31 March) may not exceed 20 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3). No publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).air qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2012/10/16 09:50:46 GMT+1FigureSulphur dioxide 2010 - Hourly limit value for the protection of human healthhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/sulphur-dioxide-2010-hourly-limit
In the air quality directive (2008/EC/50) the EU has set two limit values for sulphur dioxide (SO2) for the protection of human health: the SO2 hourly mean value may not exceed 350 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 24 times in a year and the SO2 daily mean value may not exceed 125 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) more than 3 times in a year.No publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).air qualitysulphur dioxideair pollution2012/10/16 09:40:25 GMT+1FigureAir quality in Europe — 2012 reporthttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2012
This report presents an overview and analysis of the status and trends of air quality in Europe based on concentration measurements in ambient air and data on anthropogenic emissions and trends from 2001 — when mandatory monitoring of ambient air concentrations of selected pollutants first produced reliable air quality information — to 2010.No publisherbenzenecoairbasenitrogen dioxideheavy metalsbenzo(a)pyreneozoneparticulate matterso2no2carbon monoxidehuman healthair qualityo3sulphur dioxidepm2012/09/21 09:25:53 GMT+1PublicationNitrogen oxide emissions still a major problem in Europehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/nitrogen-oxide-emissions-still-a
Air pollution emitted from sources such as traffic, industry and households is still above internationally agreed limits in many European countries, according to data published today. The accompanying report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) confirms an initial assessment published earlier this year, showing 12 EU Member States exceeded limits under the National Emissions Ceilings (NEC) Directive in 2010.Under the NEC Directive, countries were obliged, by 2010, to meet ‘ceilings’ for four important air pollutants: nitrogen oxides (NOX), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ammonia (NH3). These pollutants are harmful to both people and the environment, causing respiratory illnesses, acidifying soil and surface water, and damaging vegetation.

Since 2001, Member States have been working towards meeting these ceilings. Today’s publication of official 2010 data from Member States is the first time that those efforts can be measured against the legally binding targets. The findings, based on official preliminary data for 2010 reported by Member States, confirm EEA’s early analysis made in February 2012. Final emissions data for 2010 will be reported by countries at the end of this year.

“All these pollutants contribute to poor air quality, which damages people’s health and the environment,” EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade said. “We should also note that 2010 was a recession year in much of Europe. As emissions can rebound during periods of economic recovery, countries need to make positive efforts to limit any increase of emissions in the future.”

Road transport contributes approximately 40 % of total NOx emissions in the EU. Reductions of NOX from this sector over the last two decades have been lower than originally anticipated, according to the report. This is partly because transport has grown more than expected, and partly because the real-world emissions from diesel vehicles are higher than those estimated when the vehicle emission limit standards were set.

A lot of progress has been made in reducing sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions in recent decades. SO2 emissions in the EU were more than 40% below the EU’s ceiling for this pollutant, and no Member States exceeded their SO2 ceiling.

Spain was the only Member State to report exceeding three of its four emission ceilings (NOX, NMVOC, NH3), followed by Germany (NOX, NMVOC) and Finland (NOX, NH3) with two exceedances each.

The EU also has emissions ceilings under the NEC Directive, one being the sum of the individual Member States’ ceilings for each pollutant, while the second is a stricter, specific ceiling for the EU as a whole. Of these, the two EU ceilings for NOx were both exceeded, albeit the first by only a small margin.

Coming up…

During summer 2012, the EEA will publish data presenting long term emission trends of air pollutants within the EU’s annual report to the Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution (LRTAP). Later in the year the EEA will also publish a separate analysis showing to what extent the original objectives in the NEC Directive – protecting human health and environment – have been achieved.

The European Commission is currently reviewing the European Union’s air quality policy, and, amongst other initiatives, is expected to propose a revised NEC Directive in 2013 at the latest. A revised directive will build on the findings of the policy review and is likely to set objectives for 2020 and beyond for relevant air pollutants. In the absence of new legislation, however, the NEC Directive remains in force and requires countries to keep emissions below national ceilings in the years beyond 2010.

More information

]]>No publisherNOxmethaneNEC directivesulphur dioxidenitrogen oxidesNEC Directive2012/06/28 13:30:00 GMT+1NewsNEC Directive status report 2011http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nec-directive-status-report-2011
Reporting by the Member States under Directive 2001/81/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001
on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutantsNo publisherair pollutant emissionsatmospheric pollutantsnon-methane volatile organic compoundsSO2NH3NOxNEC directiveammoniasulphur dioxidenitrogen oxidesmobile pollution sourcesNational Emission Ceilings Directiveinventories2012/06/28 11:15:00 GMT+1PublicationRevealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europehttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/cost-of-air-pollution
This European Environment Agency (EEA) report assesses the damage costs to health and the environment resulting from pollutants emitted from industrial facilities. It is based on the latest information, namely for 2009, publicly available through the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR, 2011) in line with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Aarhus Convention regarding access to environmental information.No publishercarbon dioxidemetal productionCAFEammoniaenergy productionparticulate matterhealthair pollution from energySO2NH3E-PRTRsulphur dioxideCO2PM10air pollutionNOXorganic micro-pollutantsnitrogen oxidespower plantsindustrial facilitiesheavy metals2011/11/23 16:19:38 GMT+1PublicationIndustrial air pollution cost Europe up to €169 billion in 2009, EEA revealshttp://www.eea.europa.eu/media/newsreleases/industrial-air-pollution-cost-europe
Air pollution from the 10,000 largest polluting facilities in Europe cost citizens between € 102 and 169 billion in 2009. This was one of the findings of a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) which analysed the costs of harm to health and the environment caused by air pollution. Half of the total damage cost (between € 51 and 85 billion) was caused by just 191 facilities.The report, 'Revealing the costs of air pollution from industrial facilities in Europe', provides a list of the individual facilities that contribute the most harm.

“Our analysis reveals the high cost caused by pollution from power stations and other large industrial plants,” Professor Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said.

“The estimated costs are calculated using the emissions reported by the facilities themselves. By using existing tools employed by policy-makers to estimate harm to health and the environment, we revealed some of the hidden costs of pollution. We cannot afford to ignore these issues”, added Professor McGlade.

The industrial facilities covered by the analysis include large power plants, refineries, manufacturing combustion and industrial processes, waste and certain agricultural activities. Emissions from power plants contributed the largest share of the damage costs (estimated at €66–112 billion). Other significant contributions to the overall damage costs came from production processes (€23–28 billion) and manufacturing combustion (€8–21 billion). Sectors excluded from the EEA analysis include transport, households and most agricultural activities – if these were included the cost of pollution would be even higher.

Key findings

Air pollution by the facilities covered by EEA’s analysis cost every European citizen approximately € 200-330 on average in 2009.

Countries such as Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, France and Italy, where a high number of large facilities are located, contribute the most to the total damage costs. However, when damage costs are weighted in an attempt to reflect the productivity of national economies, the ordering of countries changes significantly. The emissions from countries such as Bulgaria, Romania, Estonia, Poland and the Czech Republic are then relatively more important with regard to the damage costs.

A small number of individual facilities cause the majority of damage costs. Three quarters of the total damage costs were caused by the emissions from just 622 industrial facilities – 6 % of the total number. The facilities with emissions associated with a high damage cost are in most cases some of the largest facilities in Europe which release the greatest amount of pollutants.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions contribute the most to the overall damage costs, approximately €63 billion in 2009. Air pollutants, which contribute to acid rain and can cause respiratory problems - sulphur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), particulate matter (PM10) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - were found to cause €38-105 billion of damage a year.

Figure 1. Locations of the 191 E-PRTR facilities that contributed 50 % of the total damage costs estimated in 2009

Calculating economic costs from emissions

The report uses publicly-available data from the European Pollutant Release and Transfer Register (E-PRTR). The analysis builds on existing policy tools and methods, such as the methods developed under the EU’s Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) programme. Based on the different methodologies, it calculates a range of estimated damage costs arising from air pollutant releases reported by nearly 10 000 individual facilities to the E‑PRTR.

Certain aspects of harm to health and the environment are excluded from the scope of this study, such as the health and safety aspects associated with occupational exposure to air pollutants. For regional air pollutants for example, the model framework underpinning the assessment should be extended in the future to include aspects such as a valuation of ecological impacts and acid damage to culturally significant buildings and monuments. The recognised benefits of industrial facilities, including manufacturing products, employment and tax revenues, are not addressed in the report.

Context/Note to editor

It is important to note that the report does not assess whether the emissions from industrial facilities included in the E-PRTR are consistent with the legal permitting conditions for the operation of these plants.

The EEA has recently released a number of other publications addressing various aspects of air pollution in Europe. These include:

]]>No publisherco2pm10air pollutioncarbon dioxideenergyenergy productionparticulate matterso2noxnh3climate changee-prtrhealthammoniasulphur dioxidenitrogen oxidespower plants2011/11/22 10:26:52 GMT+1Press ReleaseOzone and particulates most serious air quality problems in Europe http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/ozone-and-particulates-most-serious
Air quality in Europe has improved between 1990 and 2009, as emissions of most pollutants have fallen, according to a new report from the European Environment Agency (EEA). But there is still a lot of room for improvement, as many EU countries are expected to exceed the emissions ceilings in 2010 for at least one pollutant. In addition, concentration levels of ground-level ozone and particulate matter have remained stable over recent years despite efforts to improve air quality.Although emissions have fallen over the last two decades, this has not always led to a corresponding drop in pollutant concentrations in the air. This is particularly true in the case of particulate matter (PM) and ground-level ozone, as there is a complex relationship between emissions and air quality.

Ozone and PM are the most problematic pollutants for health, potentially causing or aggravating cardiovascular and lung diseases and leading to premature death. Eutrophication, an oversupply of nutrient nitrogen in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems is another major problem caused by air pollutants. Ammonia (NH3) from agriculture and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from combustion processes are now the main acidifying and eutrophying air pollutants, as sulphur pollution has fallen in recent years. Many air pollutants also contribute to climate change.

“Europe’s air quality is generally getting better, but concentrations of some pollutants are still endangering people’s health,” Jacqueline McGlade, EEA Executive Director, said. “To improve air quality further, we need to use many different kinds of policies and measures. These could include reducing emissions levels at source, better urban planning to reduce people’s exposure and lifestyle changes at the individual level.”

Key findings of the report

Particulate matter: Twenty per cent of the EU urban population lives in areas where the EU air quality 24-hour limit value for PM10 concentration was exceeded in 2009. For the 32 member countries of the EEA, the estimate is 39 %. However, 80-90 % of the EU urban population is exposed to levels of PM10 which exceeded the more stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guidelines. This situation does not seem to be improving.

Ozone: Ozone is not directly emitted but instead is the product of chemical reactions between other gases. Although man-made emissions of many of these ‘precursors’ has declined, ozone levels did not fall significantly between 1999 and 2009.

Approximately 17 % of European citizens live in areas where the EU target for ozone concentration was exceeded in 2009. If ozone levels are compared to the more stringent WHO guidelines, more than 95% of the EU urban population was exposed to ozone exceeding this level. About one third of the total arable land in the 32 EEA member countries was also exposed to levels of ozone above the EU target level.

Sulphur dioxide (SO2): From 1999 to 2009, Europe cut SO2 levels by roughly 50 %, leading to declines in acid rain and reduced acidification. Very few EU urban citizens are exposed to levels of SO2 above the EU limit value, although 68-85 % of the EU urban population is potentially exposed to levels above the WHO guidelines.

Nitrogen dioxide (NO2): Concentrations of NO2 have declined slightly in recent years. Exceedances occurred usually at hot-spots, such as main roads. Twelve per cent of the European urban population live in areas with urban background (non-traffic) concentrations of NO2 exceeding EU and WHO levels.

Heavy metals: Atmospheric levels of arsenic, cadmium, lead and nickel are generally low in Europe. However, heavy metal levels can build up in soils, sediments and organisms. Despite considerable cuts in emissions of heavy metals since 1990 in the EU, a significant proportion of European ecosystems are still at risk of heavy metal contamination.

]]>No publisherair pollutant emissionsbenzeneheavy metalsCOair pollutionAirBasenitrogen dioxideground-level ozonesulphur dioxideeutrophicationparticulate matterSO2ozoneNH3carbon monoxideclimate changeair qualityO3ammoniaNO2PM2011/11/08 16:18:33 GMT+1NewsAir quality in Europe — 2011 reporthttp://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/air-quality-in-europe-2011
The annual report 'Air quality in Europe' summarises the most recent evaluation of Europe’s air quality status. It is mainly based on air quality measurement data that have been made available officially by 32 EEA member countries as well as 6 EEA cooperating countries. The report includes maps and analyses of air quality status over the calendar year 2009. It also analyses air quality trends over the past years. The evaluation of the status and trends of air quality is based on ambient air measurements, in conjunction with reported anthropogenic emissions. The report summarizes the main effects of different air pollutants on human health, the environment and the climate. An overview of policies and measures at European level is also given for each pollutant.
This report reviews progress towards meeting the requirements of the two air quality directives in force as well as the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The report is produced in support of European and national policy development and implementation in the field of air quality. It also supports air quality management and informs the general public on the current status and trends of air quality in Europe.No publisherair pollutant emissionsbenzeneCOair pollutionAirBasenitrogen dioxideheavy metalsbenzo(a)pyreneozoneparticulate matterSO2NO2carbon monoxideair qualityO3sulphur dioxidePM2011/11/08 16:16:08 GMT+1PublicationEmissions intensity of sulphur dioxide from public conventional thermal power productionhttp://www.eea.europa.eu/data-and-maps/figures/emissions-intensity-of-sulphur-dioxide-from-public-conventional-thermal-power-production-2
Emissions intensity of sulphur dioxide from public conventional thermal power productionNo publisherEEA standard re-use policy: unless otherwise indicated, re-use of content on the EEA website for commercial or non-commercial purposes is permitted free of charge, provided that the source is acknowledged (http://www.eea.europa.eu/legal/copyright). Copyright holder: European Environment Agency (EEA).energysulphur dioxide2011/08/08 14:32:41 GMT+1FigureNEC Directive status report 2010http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/nec-directive-status-report-2010
Reporting by the Member States under Directive 2001/81/EC
of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2001
on national emission ceilings for certain atmospheric pollutantsNo publisheratmospheric pollutantsnon-methane volatile organic compoundsSO2NOxNH3ammoniasulphur dioxidenitrogen oxidesNational Emission Ceilings Directiveinventoriesmobile pollution sourcesNEC Directive2011/06/01 14:41:23 GMT+1PublicationEU to exceed nitrogen oxides emission ceiling, mostly due to road transport http://www.eea.europa.eu/highlights/eu-to-exceed-nitrogen-oxides
The EU-27 and its Member States must meet legally binding limits for four air pollutants set by the National Emission Ceilings Directive (NEC Directive) to protect human health and the environment. The annual status report released today by the European Environment Agency (EEA) shows that while EU-27 emissions for three air pollutants are projected to meet the ceilings, nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions for the EU-27 as a whole will exceed its ceiling by 17 %. Ten Member States expect to miss their respective NOx ceilings.The NEC Directive status report 2010 documents the most recent emissions (2009) and projection information (2010) for the four pollutants covered by the directive: sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOCs) and ammonia (NH3). The pollutants covered by the report harm both human health and the environment by contributing to the formation of ground-level ozone and particulate matter and leading to acidification and eutrophication.

The NOx challenge

The road transport sector bears most of the blame for the anticipated exceedances, contributing to more than 40 % of total EU-27 NOxemissions in 2009. Furthermore, although emissions from the sector have decreased since 1990, the reduction over the past 2 decades has not been as large as originally anticipated. This is partly because the sector has grown more than expected and partly because vehicle emission standards have not always delivered the anticipated level of NOxreductions.

Even taking into account NOx control measures already in place within the Member States, the NOx emissions for the EU-27 are still projected to be 6 % above the aggregated Member States limits (known as the Annex I ceilings) and 17 % above the stricter ceiling for the European Union as a whole (the Annex II ceiling) set for 2010.

Some Member States, such as the Netherlands and Slovenia, expect to exceed their respective NOxceilings by only small margins (less than 5 %). In contrast, Germany and France expect to exceed their ceilings by 328 kilotonnes and 275 kilotonnes respectively - equivalent to exceedances of 31 % and 34 %. Austria, while expecting lower surpluses in absolute terms, anticipates exceeding its ceilings by an even larger margin (40 %).

Other pollutants mostly on track

For the other three pollutants (SO2 – primarily from fuel combustion for electricity generation and by industry, NMVOCs – from the use of solvents and from the road transport sector, NH3 – mainly from agriculture) the EU-27 projections are all below the emissions ceilings defined by the directive. Most Member States also anticipate meeting their emission ceilings for these pollutants as displayed in the following table.

Overview of 'with measures' (WM) projections (1) reported by Member States

Member State

NOx

NMVOCs

SO2

NH3

Austria

×

√

√

√

Belgium

×

√

√

√

Bulgaria

√

√

√

√

Cyprus

√

√

√

√

Czech Republic

√

√

√

√

Denmark

√

×

√

√

Estonia

√

√

√

√

Finland

√

√

√

√

France

×

√

√

√

Germany

×

×

√

×

Greece

×

√

√

√

Hungary

√

√

√

√

Ireland

×

√

√

√

Italy

√

√

√

√

Latvia

√

√

√

√

Lithuania

√

√

√

√

Luxembourg

×

√

√

√

Malta

√

√

√

√

Netherlands

×

√

√

×

Poland

√

√

√

√

Portugal

√

×

√

√

Romania

√

√

√

√

Slovakia

√

√

√

√

Slovenia

×

√

√

√

Spain

×

×

√

√

Sweden

√

√

√

√

United Kingdom

√

√

√

√

√

17

23

27

25

×

10

4

0

2

A '√' indicates that the Member State anticipates meeting its emission ceiling for a pollutant, while 'x' indicates that a ceiling is expected to be exceeded.

(1) Member State emission ceilings are compared against reported 'with measures' (WM) projections. WM projections take into account currently implemented and adopted policies and measures. The projections data can be considered as preliminary estimates of emissions in 2010. More detailed emissions data for the year 2010 will be reported at the end of 2011. These data will allow a more reliable assessment of the emission reductions achieved by Member States.

What next?

The European Commission has recently launched a comprehensive review of its air policy, building on the 2005 Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution (TSAP) and Clean Air for Europe (CAFE) initiatives. This follows discussions and agreement within the Commission that further actions to improve air quality are a pressing need. The Commission plans to focus on a number of immediate measures and a more comprehensive review of EU's air policy by 2013 at the latest.

This revision of policy, including the NEC Directive, is expected to propose stricter emission ceilings for 2020 in order to protect health and the environment further. It could also, for the first time, introduce a ceiling for fine particulate matter (PM2.5). In the absence of new legislation, however, the NEC Directive remains in force and requires that future emissions stay below national ceilings also after 2010.

NEC data viewer

The EEA publishes the data from the NEC Directive status report 2010 in an air pollutant emissions data viewer, a searchable web-based interface that simplifies access and analysis. The data viewer allows users to compare emissions from different countries and their proximity to the emission ceilings.